Vin Mazzaro Stats & Scouting Report

IP	383
ERA	4.794
WHIP	1.554
BB/9	3.666
SO/9	5.475

Full name Vincent Michael Mazzaro
Born 09/27/1986 in Hackensack, NJ
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Rutherford
Debut 06/02/2009
Drafted in the 3rd round (101st overall) by the Oakland Athletics in 2005 (signed for $380,000).

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New Jersey had three premium high school arms that jockeyed much of the spring for the distinction of being the first player drafted, and Mazzaro looks like the winner. Not only was his power stuff slightly more appealing than the others, but Mazzaro is considered far more signable. He has a live arm, with a fastball at 88-92 mph that touches 93. He gets exceptional movement on the pitch because he throws across his body from a high three-quarters angle. He has a difficult time controlling his slider from that slot, but it's also a potential put-away pitch. Mazzaro has had several high-pitch games this year, which is a concern to scouts, and his makeup bothers some. But he was 7-1, 0.27 with six walks and 91 strikeouts in 52 innings. While he has committed to St. John's, he is expected to sign if he's drafted in the first three to five rounds.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Though he posted a 5.21 ERA over his first two pro seasons, the A's sent Mazzaro to Double-A last season at age 21. He responded by leading the Texas League in ERA (1.90), earning TL pitcher of the year honors and a promotion to Triple-A. Mazzaro's hard sinker sits in the low 90s and touches 95, generating groundballs. He pitches off his fastball, and he shows the ability to sink, run or cut it. His control got significantly better in 2008, allowing him to keep hitters off balance by mixing locations and changing planes. He showed a greater willingness to challenge hitters than he had in the past. His improved slider has tight break and is an average pitch. Mazzaro still is trying to find a reliable offspeed pitch. He didn't throw his changeup much last season, though it took a step forward and could become an average offering. His curveball is more of a show-me pitch. His mechanics are mostly sound, though he does throw slightly across his body. After getting knocked around in Triple-A at the end of last season, he'll return there in 2009. With Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill nearly ready for the majors, Oakland shouldn't have to rush Mazzaro.
Mazzaro was the third high school pitcher the A's took in the 2005 draft, and he's always been ahead of his peers. Jared Lansford has the best sinker of the trio, but Mazarro has good natural sink to his fastball as well. It's a heavy, 90-92 mph fastball that can touch 95 with late explosion through the zone. His best secondary option remains his changeup, but he struggled to command it as he rushed through the lower half of his delivery often leaving it up in the zone, and high Class A hitters pounced on his mistakes. His power breaking ball is below-average, though it shows flashes of at least being an average pitch with some definition. Mazarro needs to add something to his power arsenal to keep hitters off-balance. Right now, everything is hard without much differential in his velocity. He'll move to Double-A for 2008 and profiles better for the bullpen now until he shows consistent command of the breaking ball or a feel for changing speeds.
The third high school pitcher the A's picked in the 2005 draft, Mazzaro was ahead of Jared Lansford to open 2006, earning a spot on Kane County's Opening Day roster while Lansford was in extended spring training. But Mazzaro wrapped up his season in mid-August with an ERA north of 5.00 (he reached his innings limit), while Lansford earned a promotion. While Lansford is known as the sinkerballer, Mazzaro has natural sink as well, with similar upper- 80s/low-90s velocity. His best secondary pitch is a changeup that was better in instructional league in 2005 than it was during his first regular season. His curveball has its moments, particularly when he throws it with power and confidence. As the season proved, though, Mazzaro didn't always do that, and the quality of his stuff fluctuated. Showing up on game day was enough against New Jersey high school players, but he learned that beating professionals requires better preparation, conditioning and mental toughness. The A's remain confident he'll learn his lessons and earn a spot in the high Class A rotation for 2007.
After selecting a pair of high school righthanders in the second round of the 2005 draft, the A's took another in the third with Mazzaro. They paid him a $380,000 bonus to sway him away from pitching at St. John's. While he signed too late to make his pro debut, he outpitched both second- rounders Craig Italiano and Jared Lansford in instructional league. Mazarro's lively, sinking fastball sits at 88-91 mph can touch 94. His corkscrew delivery and high three-quarters arm slot offer plenty of deception. He throws a power curveball with good break. While his makeup was questioned by some in high school, Oakland praises his work ethic. Mazzaro throws across his body, which hurts his control and could pose a long-term health risk. Like many young pitchers, he never really has needed a changeup, so it still ranks well behind his sinker and curveball. Mazzaro's performance in instructional league surprised even the A's, who think he's ready for full-season ball. He'll make his pro debut as a 19-year-old in low Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

Mazzaro proved that his 2008 breakout season, when he led the Texas League in ERA (1.90) and was the circuit's pitcher of the year, was no fluke. He was mostly untouchable during his two months with Sacramento before joining Oakland's young rotation in June. Mazzaro induces plenty of grounders thanks to a sinking fastball that sits in the low 90s and can touch 96 mph. His 84-86 mph slider gives him a second above-average pitch. His delivery isn't textbook, as he throws slightly across his body, but it does aid in giving him some deception. When Mazzaro did struggle in Triple-A, it was usually because he wasn't throwing his changeup enough. His changeup has a chance to be a slightly above-average pitch, but he's still learning to trust it. He also throws a downer curveball, but it's not much more than a show-me pitch at this point.
Mazzaro set the tone for a prospect-laden Midland staff that also included Simmons and got cameos from Anderson, Cahill and Henry Rodriguez. The TL pitcher of the year, Mazzaro led the league in wins (12) and ERA (1.90) and earned a promotion to Triple-A in August. He dominated with a power sinker that sat around 92-93 mph and touched 95. He also incorporated a four-seam fastball and a slider, but he mostly thrived with the sinker and commanded it well. He also did a better job of challenging hitters than he had in the past and was stubborn with runners on base.